Door lock signal



June 16, 17942.

H. cHAsKlN DOOR LOOK SIGNALv Filed June 13, 1341 3 Sheets-Shea?I l INVENTOR.

June 16, 1942. H. cHAsKlN 2,286,463

DOOR LOCK SIGNAL Filed June 15, 1941 s sheets-sheet 2 June 16, 1942. H CHASNN .2,286,463v

DOOR LOCK S IGNAL Filed June 13, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q9. faQ

(56 4 10 /z 15 fz@ 2 [-{cyL/NDERHKEVH .SPR/Namrfu H1. oc/f cAs/N 4P-i1 SW/TCH MEMBER WJ T F,

@j co/vmcrl {54 O oli?- CONTACT I'I'l'l INVENTOR. fl fold has 764520.

Patented .lune 16, 1942 TENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to door lock signal systems and has for its main object to indicate to the person using a key to unlock a door whether the door is locked and to warn him to withdraw the key before leaving the door.

For this purpose I provide a lock with the usual interior knob actuator and an exterior key operated actuator together with a signal device and a switch actuated by either of the actuators, all so constructed and arranged that if the key is inserted in the lock when the lock is bolted or the bolt shot, a white light shows in the door adjacent the key. When the bolt is retracted and the door unlocked a red light shows in the door. One of these lights shows bright when the key is in the lock regardless of the position oi the key. The insertion of the key completes the electric circuit through the switch member and the position of the switch member determines which of the signal lamps is to be energized. The invention is applicable to any form of lock such as one having a combination spring pressed latch and bolt or one having separate lock and latch mechanisms or an ordinary dead bolt lock.

Fig. 1 is a side View of parts of one form of lock mechanism and a signal actuator.

Fig. 2 is an inside view of one form of lock mechanism with the switch mechanism, the parts of the switch being in the position in which the lock is bolted.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail of the lock and adjacent parts of the door frame and door.

Fig. 4 are edge views of parts of the movable switch member and the key operated actuator.

Fig. 5 is a View of the parts of Fig. 2 but with lock unbolted.

Fig. 6 is a side View of the key housing.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the key plug with a key in place.

Fig. 8 is a rear end view of the key plug.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of a washer forming a part of the key plug on a smaller scale.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view on a small scale showing fragments of a door frame and door with a lock and signal device in place.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the signal device approximately full size.

Fig. l2 is a diagrammatic view of a door and a signal circuit.

The lock mechanism l may be of any suitable type and mounted on the door 2 opposite the jamb or door frame 3. The lock is actuated from the outside by a key I6 inserted in the pin tumbler lock 4. An external knob 5 is also provided and may actuate any suitable type of spring latch mechanism (not shown). The lock mechanism is actuated from the inside by means of another knob 6.

At the outside adjacent the key entrance to the lock is mounted a visual signal device prefere ably in the form of red and whitelamps as later described.

A metallic key I3 is fitted in a groove Il in the plug or bushing I I which is formed of insulating material and rotates in the housing 0r cylinder 4 of a lockof the usual pin tumbler type having recesses I2 for the pins I2a and springs I2C. A spring I3 serves as an abutment in the recess I4 for the inner end of the key. The blade or stem l5 extends through a slot I8 in the insulating washer I3 which is secured to the inner end of the plug II by screws or rivets in holes I9 and holds the stem in place so that it will rotate with the plug and key.

The casing 23 of the lock mechanism I supports the inner knob 6 which has the roll back 2l under pressure of spring 22. The latch follower 24 is pivoted at 25 to the carrier 26 which slides on tracks 21 and is under tension of spring 28. Spring 29 engages in a slot 30 in the part 3| which is mounted on projections 32 on the carrier 26. This carrier 28 has bolt-like parts 33 adapted to interlock with a nxed plate 33a on the door jamb. The fixed projection 38 in the casing acts as a stop for the latch 24 to prevent the locking action of the latch and the bolt carrier downward from the position of Fig. 2 and upward from the position of Fig. 5.

When the knob 6 and roll back 2l are turned, one end of the roll back will engage the part 23 of the latch follower 24 and retract the upper end of it from the stop 38. Projection 26a on carrier 26 strikes the projection 38 to limit the upward movement of the carrier in the position of Fig. 2. When the roll back 2| is turned counterclockwise from the position of Fig. 2 it engages the part 23 and then the projection 2Gb on the carrier and thus moves the carrier downwardly and retracts the bolt 33. When the roll back is turned clockwise from the position of Fig. 5 it rst engages part 23 to retract latch 24 and then engages the projection 26a and lifts the bolt carrier to lock'the bolt.

The cover plate 31 of the casing 28 is seated on shoulders 39 and is held by screw 31h and carries a rotatable cam-like member 31a within the casing. This has a slot 31e t0 receive the end of the stem I5 of the pin tumbler lock so that the cam may be rotated to engage the part 23 of the follower 24 and operate it and the carrier 2S in a manner similar to the operation by the knob 6 and roll back 2|.

The switch contacts 34 and E5 are carried by the casing Zi) but insulated therefrom by washers 35. The carrier 25 and the follower 24 constitute the movable switch member actuated by the key, stem l5 and cam 37a and also by the knoby 6 and roll back 2l, although the latter does not actuate the signal.

When the lock mechanism is mounted in a metal door, the entire lock casing 2i) and the switch member are insulated from it-for instance by a suitable insulating member t8. The bolt receiving member 33a in such case should also be insulated so as to avoid grounding the lock when the door is closed.

The signal device 1 has two lamps 5S and 54 preferably white and red respectively. One is connected in circuit with the battery (or ordinary house transformer-not shown) through contact 34 and the other through contact 35. Both are connected to the hinge part 3i of the door which must be insulated if the door be metallic, and thence through the other hinge part 56 to the battery and to the other hinge 55 to ground constituted by the metal door. If the door be of insulating material such as wood, a wire may connect hinge 55 and the body of the cylinder, thus completing the circuit between points 2, 2 shown in Fig. 12.

The signal circuit is from battery 53 through hinge 55, ground 2, the metal cylinder body it, the metal pins i211, the wards ofthe key l, spring i3, stem l5, lock casing 20, switch member 24, contact 34 or 35 (according to lock position), f.

intending to enter what the' condition is before l he even turns the key. If he turns the key fully the lamps will change over so that he knows that the bolt has been actuated. In either position of the key he will be warned not to leave his key in the lock. wire grounded system, it is obvious that a two wire ungrounded system might be used.

Where the door is locked by means of the usual latch and also by means of the bolt, it is preferable for the signal to be responsive to the sliding of the bolt into locked position rather than the locking of the door by the latch. On insertion of the key in the keyhole the signals indicate whether or not the door is locked by the bolt. Ordinarily turning the key through a small angle is sufficient to unlock the latch and continued turning is required to slide the bolt to its unlocked position. Where the habits of the occupants include only locking the latch whiie within the house or apartment, and locking the bolt only on leaving, with this invention it will be apparent that on insertion of a key in the keyB hole the signals may thus indicate whether or not the door is locked by the bolt and thus whether or not some of the family are in the house.

This case isa partial continuation of my application Serial Number 369,253, i'lled December' 9, 1940.

Although I have shown a single I claim:

1. Improvements in door lock signal mechanism comprising an electric switch having two contacts connected to discrete signal lamps visible adjacent the keyway leading to the operable part of the lock which is actuated from the outside of the door, a movable switch member included in the bolt actuated mechanism and operable by the usual knob device at the interior of the door to engage one or the other of the contacts depending upon whether the locking bolt is out or in and means including the usual key inserted into the lock at the outside of the door for retracting the bolt for closing an electric circuit through one or the other contact and its connected signal lamp when the key is inserted in the exterior of the lock.

2. Signaling mechanism for a door lock having a metallic key-actuated part and including a single pole two way switch actuated by the lock so as t0 be thrown in one direction when the lock is open and to be thrown in the other direction when the lock is closed, so as to connect one side of an electric power supply alternatively to signal lamps correspondent to the two positions of the lock, and a switch comprised by the key of the lock and the metallic part of the lock engaged by said key, connected in series between the common return of said signal lamps and the other side of said power supply, whereby said lamps will be illuminated only when said key is inserted in the lock.

3. In `door lock signals, means for determining the actuation of one of a plurality of signal lamps including a source of power and a single pole switch actuated by the lock key and connected between said power source and the body of said lock, and means for selectively determining the lighting of a predetermined one of said signal lamps including a single pole switch of the multiple position type having the common terminal thereof comprised by a moving member of the lock and having the terminals corresponding to the various positions thereof connected to signal lamps correspondent to said lock positions, and means connecting the common returns of said lamps to the power source.

4. In door lock signalling systems, apparatus for exteriorly indicating the position of the lock upon the insertion of a key on the outside of a door, including a key-actuated switch and a multi-position selector switch in series therewith, means actuated by the shifting of the lock from one position to another for determining the operation of said selector switch, signal lamps visible from the outside of the door and connected to the various positions of said selector switch and a power supply feeding said key-actuated switch and the signal lamp connected thereto by said selector switch, whereby the lamps will function only when a key is inserted from the outside of the door.

5. In lock signalling apparatus, a selective signal actuating switch, a moving element of the lock constituting the common element of the switch and two discrete contacts aiixed to the body of the lock, but insulated therefrom, constituting the selective contact points of the switch, whereby the operation of the lock will connect the body thereof alternatively to said two contact points, a signal determining switch operable from outside the door and constituted by the lock key and the lock pins engaging therewith, two signal lamps visible from outside a door and connected respectiveh7 to said two contact points, and means for connecting the two switches in series and for connecting the return of the switch assembly and the return of both lamps to a source of electrical power.

6. In lock position indicating devices, the combination of a circuit closer, including a lock key as the movable contact thereof and the lock cylinder and a spring connected to the lock body as the stationary elements thereof, with a circuit selector including an element of the boltmoving mechanism as the moving contact and stationary contacts mounted upon the lock body but insulated therefrom, said element of the boltmoving mechanism making alternate contact with said stationary contacts so as to connect discrete signal lamps alternately to said lock body, said lamps lighting only upon insertion of the key into the lock.

7. A lock position indicating device including two signal lamps, each connected to a separate insulated contact mounted on the lock body and each connected to a power source, electrical connection means for making selective contact with said contacts comprising a metallic element of the lock which moves with the bolt thereof so as to make selective connection of said contacts with the lock body, and circuit closing means for connecting the body with the power source, including a spring connected to said body and receiving the endV of the lock key and metallic lock pins making contact with said key and connected to said power source.

8. In a door lock signal device of the character described, a body with bolt moving mechanism having a moving contact and two stationary contacts mounted on the lock body carrying said mechanism, means for operating said mechanism from inside the door so that Said moving contact will alternatively engage said stationary contacts, a signal indicating device connected to each of said stationary contacts and to a power source, key-actuated means also adapted to operate said bolt-moving mechanism from outside the door and including a circuit closer actuated by the insertion of a key and acting to complete the connection of the power source to both of the signal indicating devices, whereby said signal devices are actuated only upon insertion of the key into the lock.

9. Improvements in door lock signal mechanism including a two way switch alternatively actuated by the lock bolt in the respective closed and open positions thereof, two electric signal devices disposed so as to be alternatively connected by said two way switch to one terminal of a source of electric energy, a key-actuated switch connected in series between the other terminal of said source and the other terminal of both signal devices, whereby said devices will be actuated only when the key is inserted in the lock from the outside and means for actuating the lock from the inside Without actuating said signal device.

HAROLD CEAS-KIN. 

